Ice fishing device for protecting a fishing line

ABSTRACT

An ice fishing line protection device, for protecting micro fishing line as light as one or two pound test, comprising an elongated tube with an internal passageway through which a fishing line may pass. The protection device floats in an ice fishing hole protecting the line from abrasions. The protection device opens to release the line or it can be extracted from the ice hole entirely when a fish is caught.

The present invention relates in general to the art of ice fishing, andit relates in particular to novel devices which prevent the fishing linefrom being abraded by a peripheral edge of a hole in a sheet of ice andother ice surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice fishing is something that many people want to try. But whatequipment is needed? The basics include a bucket, some line and hooksand an auger. However, most ice fisherman want all the stuff they canget, and a sled to haul it all on. Walleye and perch are often caughtthrough the ice, but bass, catfish, crappie and bream also bite whentheir world is frozen over. Ice fishing is made appealing to a broadsector of the fishing world through fisherman TV shows showing big fishbeing pulled through holes that look too small.

Many areas offer ice fishing opportunities for perch, sunfish, walleye,crappie, whitefish, and trout, as potential quests. It depends on whatis in season and where. Indeed, fish, when caught from the frigid icecold water, are at the year's best, with the flesh firm and flaky. It isduring the winter that most ardent anglers regard fish as the besttasting, not having the muddy flavor from waters which are quite warmduring summer months.

An ice fisherman may have to drill ten to fifteen holes, fishing eachhole about fifteen minutes, before finally hitting a good fishing area.Once the fish are found, you obviously stay there. If a number of holesare drilled, the ice fisherman can return to any of them, retrying someof the holes a bit later. Fish may have moved in to the hole area or theact of boring the hole may spook the fish away. Retrying a previouslydrilled hole may be what's needed to locate fish, especially if otheranglers in the same area are catching fish.

There are a variety of types of equipment that are used for ice fishing.Generally either stationary lines or jigging lines are used. Thesimplest form of stationary line is the set-line. A two to three footslender willow or dogwood branch is anchored in the frozen slush so thatthe smaller tip is centered over the hole. After attaching a smallelastic to your line by means of a couple of loops, it will be hung nearthe tip of your branch or twig. A minnow is then suspended under asinker about one to five feet off bottom. If a fish hits, the elasticcushions the strike and pops off the branch. After the fish is landed,the elastic will hold the bait at exactly the previous depth. Floats canalso be used to hold a minnow off bottom. Some fisherman like to keeptheir bait moving all the time (“jigging”)—gently allowing their bait togo right to the bottom, and allowing it to stay there for severalminutes. After several minutes, lines are ‘triggered’, then after a fewminutes, if nothing is happening, lines are raised up to a new depth,about four feet higher and the process is repeated until the bait isright up to and nearly into the hole. Trying this whole procedure acouple of times in a given location provides a proper depth to catchfish. Once success strikes, returning the bait to the same depth willcontinue the success—as this is where the fish are. They often ‘suspend’at a given depth, and may not be above, or below this depth. Fish oftenshow an orientation to the bottom. In general, speckled trout are foundin 5 to 15 feet of water, walleye and pike in 5 to 30 feet and laketrout and whitefish in 30 to 80 feet. A sonar unit can be an importantpiece of ice fishing equipment. Moreover, good locations will producefish, year after year. Purchasing a portable G.P.S. will allow thecoordinates to be saved for future use.

Tip-ups provide the opportunity to move the bait as well as detecting astrike. Commercial tip-ups usually have a small reel to hold the lineand a flag mechanism to indicate the presence of a fish. Most icefishermen use line in the range of 8 to 14 pound test. Since the icehole can be abrasive, it makes sense to use line of approximately twopounds greater strength than you would use in warm water conditions. Aproblem arises with using thicker line as it becomes more visible to thefish in the clearer, non-muddy waters and diminishes the catch. Theinstant device is most favorably designed to protect micro fishing lineas light as one or tow pound test.

To alleviate this problem, and others which will become apparent fromthe disclosure which follows, the present invention conveniently relatesto a novel ice fishing device for protecting a fishing line from beingabraded by a peripheral edge of an ice hole. Ice fishermen encounter aproblem with line wear and breakage caused by dragging the fishing lineacross sharp edges of the ice as the fish pulls the line under the ice.This problem is particularly acute while fighting relatively large gamefish. Thus, a length of the protective tube is selected that extendssome distance below the bottom of the ice layer to provide a guard forprotecting the line from the sharp edges of the ice. In this regard, thetube is preferably made of variable length to fit varying ice conditionsand eliminate the need to cut the tube to a desired length.

According to one embodiment, an ice fishing line anti-abrasion system isprovided for protecting an ice fishing line from abrasion by an icehole. The device comprises an upper annular ring and a lower annularring, both annular rings being interconnected to each other and to apole connector, and an extendable elongated tube.

Each annular ring has a hole for receiving the ice fishing line. Thetube has a top end and a bottom end. The tube has a means for floatationdisposed on an exterior surface thereof. The tube may comprise twoelongated half tubes, each with semicircular cross-section, and fastenedtogether on one side with at least one longitudinal hinge and on theother side with a quick release locking mechanism. The tube has abiasing means to open the other side when the quick release lockingmechanism is actuated. Each of the half tubes has a half annular recessproximate the top end and a half annular recess proximate the bottomend. Each annular recess proximate the top end being adapted forreceiving the upper annular ring, and each annular recess proximate thebottom end being adapted for receiving the lower annular ring.

Thus, the ice fishing line can be threaded through the upper annularring and the lower annular ring, the upper annular ring and the lowerannular ring can be disposed in one of the half annular recessesproximate the top end and the half annular recesses proximate the bottomend. The two elongated half tubes can be closed together and securedwith the quick release locking mechanism. The closed extendableelongated tube can be inserted into the ice hole and floated in thewater in the ice hole and the fishing line can be raised and lowered asneeded to facilitate fishing activity. The quick release lockingmechanism can be actuated to open the tube, whereupon the annular ringsand the fishing line can be removed from the tube upon a fish strike.Supplementally, a pole connector, in contact with a fishing pole, can beemployed which is flexibly attached to the annular rings. Pulling up onthe fishing pole can engage the tube that is connected to the annularrings and extract the entire ice fishing device for protecting a fishingline from the water upon a fish strike.

ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION

The ice fishing line protection device invention can be used in a numberof ways to protect an ice fishing line from abrasions. First, using atube that is floatable in an ice hole will substantially diminishabrasions from the peripheral wall of the ice hole itself. Moreover,since it is designed to have the bottom of the tube extend at or belowthe bottom surface of the ice, abrasions from the sharp edges of the iceon the bottom of an ice sheet can be minimized. Additionally, since thetop end of the tube is buoyantly maintained at an elevation at least ashigh as the top surface of the sheet of ice abrasions from the upper rimof the ice hole are diminished.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthis disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, itsoperating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

Still other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure thatfollows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, an ice fishing line protectiondevice is taught comprising an elongated tube with a top end, a bottomend, and an internal passageway extending from the top end to the bottomend through which a fishing line may pass. The device includes buoyancymeans attached to the tube for maintaining the top end of the tube in anelevated position relative to the bottom end while the tube is disposedin water and means for extracting the tube from a hole in a sheet of icethat is filled with water. The means for extracting includes a linkageextending upwardly from the tube disposed in the hole. The linkage isaccessible to a fisherman on top of the sheet of ice and has a poleconnector that engages a fishing pole of the fisherman so that the tubecan be extracted from the hole in the sheet of ice that is filled withwater upon the fishing pole being pulled away from the hole with thepole connector engaged thereto.

According to another embodiment, an ice fishing line protection devicecomprises an elongated tube of variable length with a top end and abottom end. The tube has an internal passageway extending from the topend to the bottom end through which a fishing line may pass. The tubehas a top segment comprising two top longitudinal sections extendingfrom the top end to a first medial end. Each of the two top longitudinalsections has a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinalside edge: the first longitudinal side edge of one of the two toplongitudinal sections is pivotally joined with the second longitudinalside edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sections, and thesecond longitudinal side edge of the one of the two top longitudinalsections is reversibly connected to the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two longitudinal sections.

The tube further has a bottom segment comprising two bottom longitudinalsections extending from a second medial end to the bottom end, each ofthe two bottom longitudinal sections have a first longitudinal side edgeand a second longitudinal side edge. The first longitudinal side edge ofone of the two bottom longitudinal sections is pivotally joined with thesecond longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections. The second longitudinal side edge of the one of the two bottomlongitudinal sections is reversibly connected to the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections. One of the topsegment and bottom segment is slidably nested at least partially in theother of the top segment and bottom segment.

Biasing means for urging each of the second longitudinal side edges ofthe one of the two top longitudinal sections and the one of the twobottom longitudinal sections away from each of the first longitudinalside edges of the other of the two top longitudinal sections and theother of the two bottom longitudinal sections for opening the two toplongitudinal sections and the two bottom longitudinal sections to anopen position are further included, as well as buoyancy means formaintaining the top end of the tube in an elevated position relative tothe bottom end while the tube is disposed in water. Means for reversiblyconnecting the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge of the otherof the two longitudinal sections are provided. The means for reversiblyconnecting comprises an actuator that is accessible to a fisherman ontop of a sheet of ice so that when the actuator is engaged by thefisherman the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections is disconnected from the first longitudinal sideedge of the other of the two longitudinal sections.

In this way, the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the two toplongitudinal sections can be disconnected from the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sections and thesecond longitudinal side edge of the one of the two bottom longitudinalsections can be disconnected from the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two bottom longitudinal sections, the firstlongitudinal side edge of one of the two top longitudinal sections canbe urged by the biasing means to pivot relative to the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sectionsand the first longitudinal side edge of one of the two bottomlongitudinal sections can be urged by the biasing means to pivotrelative to the second longitudinal side edge of the other of the twobottom longitudinal sections to open the elongated tube to allow afishing line to be reversibly disposed between the longitudinalsections, the first longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections can be pivoted relative to the second longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal section to reversiblyconnect the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge of the otherof the two longitudinal sections to close the elongated tube with thefishing line disposed in the passageway, the tube can be extended sothat the distance from the top end to the bottom end is at least aslarge as a thickness of a sheet of ice in which a hole is cut for icefishing, and the bottom end of the tube with the fishing line disposedin the passageway can be inserted into the hole in the sheet of ice thatis filled with water from a body of water under the ice, for icefishing, with the top end of the tube buoyantly maintained at anelevation at least as high as the top surface of the sheet of ice andthe bottom end of the tube buoyantly maintained at an elevation at orbelow the bottom surface of the sheet of ice to protect the fishing linefrom abrasion from the peripheral edge of the hole in the sheet of ice.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon whichthis disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for thedesigning of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out theseveral purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and notby way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and inwhich like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an fishing line protection devicecomprising an openable tube with a locking mechanism for keeping thetube closed and a buoyancy flotation device for supporting the device inwater, showing also a pole connector extending from the tube andattached to a fishing rod to allow a fisherman to extract the devicefrom the water;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,showing the buoyancy flotation devices attached to the tube and alsoshowing a spring biasing means attaching to one side of the device and areversible connection means on the other side;

FIG. 3 is a fishing line protection device of variable length with meansfor interlocking to secure a predetermine extended length;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,showing the buoyancy flotation devices as part of the tube, means forinterlocking a top segment of the tube with a bottom segment, and alsoshowing a spring biasing means attaching to one side of the device and areversible connection means on the other side;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 3 with the tube in anopen position and with the means for extracting comprising a pole holderinterconnected to a top annular ring and a bottom annular ring that havebeen exploded away from said open tube, also shown are the annularrecesses on the interior surfaces of the tube which receive therespective annular rings;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with theactuator that secures the means for reversibly connecting the respectiveportions of a hollow cylinder removed (not shown) and showing the meansfor interlocking securing the inner bottom segment to the top segment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention showing a continuous tube having means for extractingcomprising one cord with buoyancy means comprising air chambers, andfurther comprising a means for illumination directed downwardly on oneof the devices disposed in an ice hole;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines of 8-8 of FIG. 7showing the chamber in which the air is contained in the buoyancy means;

FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the ice fishing line protection device withthe air chambers serving as buoyancy means and with an openable tubewith means for extracting comprising one cord and a weighted elementdisposed proximate the bottom to assist keeping the tube in an uprightposition; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line of 10-10 of FIG.9 showing open air chambers of the buoyancy means and further showing apair of facing edges of the respective portions of a hollow cylinderspivotally connected and the other pair of facing edges of the respectiveportions of a hollow cylinders reversible connected (with the actuatorremoved for clarity).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, specific details are set forth in order toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will beapparent that the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. Without departing from the generality of the inventiondisclosed herein and without limiting the scope of the invention, thediscussion that follows, will refer to the invention as depicted in thedrawing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention an ice fishing lineprotection device comprising an elongated tube 1 with a top end 1 a anda bottom end 1 b is disclosed. The tube 1 has an internal passageway 11extending from the top end 1 a to the bottom end 1 b through which afishing line 2 may pass. The tube 1 has two longitudinal sections 3extending from the top end 1 a to the bottom end. Each of the twolongitudinal sections 3 has a first longitudinal side edge and a secondlongitudinal side edge, respectively, a longitudinal side edge 9. Thefirst longitudinal side edge of one of the two longitudinal sections 3is pivotally joined with the second longitudinal side edge of the otherof the two longitudinal section, and the second longitudinal side edgeof the one of the two longitudinal sections 3 is reversibly connected tothe first longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections 3. One or more hinges 4, including but not limited to livinghinges, and the like, may be used for pivotally joining the twolongitudinal sections 3.

The tube 1 further has means for reversibly connecting 5 the secondlongitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections 3 tothe first longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections and buoyancy means 6 for maintaining the top end of the tube 1in an elevated position relative to the bottom end 1 b while the tube 1is disposed in water. The means for reversibly connecting comprises anactuator 5 a that is accessible to a fisherman on top of a sheet of ice7 so that when the actuator is engaged by the fisherman the secondlongitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections isdisconnected from the first longitudinal side edge of the other of thetwo longitudinal sections 3. The tube 1 also has biasing means 8 forurging the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections 3 away from the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two longitudinal sections for opening the twolongitudinal sections.

In this way, the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections can be disconnected from the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections 3, the firstlongitudinal side edge of one of the two longitudinal sections can beurged by the biasing means 8 to pivot relative to the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections toopen the elongated tube 1 to allow a fishing line 2 to be reversiblydisposed between the two longitudinal sections, the first longitudinalside edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections can be pivotedrelative to the second longitudinal side edge of the other of the twolongitudinal section to reversibly connect the second longitudinal sideedge of the one of the two longitudinal sections to the firstlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections toclose the elongated tube 1 with the fishing line 2 disposed in thepassageway, and the bottom end 1 b of the tube 1 with the fishing linedisposed in the passageway can be inserted into the hole 7 a in thesheet of ice 7 that is filled with water from a body of water under theice, for ice fishing, with the top end of the tube 1 buoyantlymaintained in an elevated position relative to the bottom end 1 b andwith the fishing line protected from abrasion from a peripheral edge ofthe hole 7 a in the sheet of ice 7.

Preferably, means for extracting 10 the tube 1 from the hole 7 a in thesheet of ice that is filled with water is provided. The means forextracting includes a linkage 10 a extending upwardly from the tube 1disposed in the hole 7 a. The linkage 10 a is accessible to thefisherman on top of the sheet of ice 7, so that the tube 1 can beextracted from the hole 7 a in the sheet of ice that is filled withwater upon the linkage 10 a is pulled away from the hole 7 a.

According to one embodiment, an ice fishing line protection devicecomprises an elongated tube 1 with a top end 1 a and a bottom end 1 b.The tube 1 has an internal passageway 11 extending from the top end tothe bottom end through which a fishing line 2 may pass. The tube 1 hastwo longitudinal sections 3 extending from the top end to the bottomend, and each of the two longitudinal sections 3 has a firstlongitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge. The firstlongitudinal side edge of one of the two longitudinal sections ispivotally joined with the second longitudinal side edge of the other ofthe two longitudinal section. The second longitudinal side edge of theone of the two longitudinal sections is reversibly connected to thefirst longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections. Means for reversibly connecting the second longitudinal sideedge of the one of the two longitudinal sections to the firstlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections isprovided. The means for reversibly connecting 5 comprises an actuator 5a that is accessible to a fisherman on top of a sheet of ice 7, so thatwhen the actuator is engaged by the fisherman the second longitudinalside edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections is disconnectedfrom the first longitudinal side edge of the other of the twolongitudinal sections.

Biasing means 8 for urging the second longitudinal side edge of the oneof the two longitudinal sections away from the first longitudinal sideedge of the other of the two longitudinal sections for opening the twolongitudinal sections 3 and buoyancy means 6 for maintaining the top endof the tube 1 in an elevated position relative to the bottom end whilethe tube 1 is disposed in water are further included. Whereby, thesecond longitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinalsections can be disconnected from the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two longitudinal sections, the first longitudinal sideedge of one of the two longitudinal sections can be urged by the biasingmeans 8 to pivot relative to the second longitudinal side edge of theother of the two longitudinal sections to open the elongated tube 1 toallow a fishing line 2 to be reversibly disposed between the twolongitudinal sections 3, the first longitudinal side edge of the one ofthe two longitudinal sections can be pivoted relative to the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal section toreversibly connect the second longitudinal side edge of the one of thetwo longitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge of theother of the two longitudinal sections to close the elongated tube 1with the fishing line 2 disposed in the passageway, and the bottom end 1b of the tube 1 with the fishing line disposed in the passageway can beinserted into the hole in the sheet of ice 7 that is filled with waterfrom a body of water under the ice, for ice fishing, with the top end ofthe tube 1 buoyantly maintained in an elevated position relative to thebottom end 1 b and with the fishing line protected from abrasion from aperipheral edge of the hole 7 a in the sheet of ice 7.

According to one embodiment, an ice fishing line protection devicecomprises an elongated tube 1 with a top end 1 a and a bottom end 1 b,buoyancy means 6 attached to the tube 1 for maintaining the top end ofthe tube 1 in an elevated position relative to the bottom end 1 b whilethe tube 1 is disposed in water, and means for extracting 10 the tube 1from a hole 7 a in a sheet of ice 7 that is filled with water. The tube1 has an internal passageway 11 extending from the top end to the bottomend 1 b through which a fishing line 2 may pass. The means forextracting 10 includes a linkage 10 a extending upwardly from the tube 1disposed in the hole 7 a. The linkage 10 a is accessible to a fishermanon top of the sheet of ice 7 and has a pole connector 12 that engages afishing pole 28 of the fisherman so that the tube 1 can be extractedfrom the hole 7 a in the sheet of ice 7 that is filled with water uponthe fishing pole 28 being pulled away from the hole 7 a with the poleconnector 12 engaged thereto.

According to one embodiment, an ice fishing line protection devicecomprises an elongated tube 1 of variable length with a top end 1 a anda bottom end 1 b. The tube 1 has an internal passageway 11 extendingfrom the top end to the bottom end through which a fishing line 2 maypass. The tube 1 has a top segment 18 comprising two top longitudinalsections 3 extending from the top end to a first medial end 14. Each ofthe two top longitudinal sections 3 has a first longitudinal side edgeand a second longitudinal side edge: the first longitudinal side edge ofone of the two top longitudinal sections is pivotally joined with thesecond longitudinal side edge of the other of the two top longitudinalsections, and the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twotop longitudinal sections is reversibly connected to the firstlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections.

The tube 1 further has a bottom segment 20 comprising two bottomlongitudinal sections 3 extending from a second medial end 16 to thebottom end 3 b, each of the two bottom longitudinal sections 3 have afirst longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge. Thefirst longitudinal side edge of one of the two bottom longitudinalsections is pivotally joined with the second longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two longitudinal sections. The second longitudinal sideedge of the one of the two bottom longitudinal sections is reversiblyconnected to the first longitudinal side edge of the other of the twolongitudinal sections. One of the top segment 18 and bottom segment 20is slidably nested at least partially in the other of the top segment 18and bottom segment 20.

Biasing means 8 for urging each of the second longitudinal side edges ofthe one of the two top longitudinal sections and the one of the twobottom longitudinal sections away from each of the first longitudinalside edges of the other of the two top longitudinal sections and theother of the two bottom longitudinal sections for opening the two toplongitudinal sections 3 a and the two bottom longitudinal sections 3 bto an open position are further included, as well as buoyancy means 6for maintaining the top end of the tube 1 in an elevated positionrelative to the bottom end 1 b while the tube 1 is disposed in water.Means for reversibly connecting 5 the second longitudinal side edge ofthe one of the two longitudinal sections to the first longitudinal sideedge of the other of the two longitudinal sections are provided. Themeans for reversibly connecting comprises an actuator 5 a that isaccessible to a fisherman on top of a sheet of ice 7 so that when theactuator 5 a is engaged by the fisherman the second longitudinal sideedge of the one of the two longitudinal sections is disconnected fromthe first longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections.

In this way, the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the two toplongitudinal sections can be disconnected from the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sections and thesecond longitudinal side edge of the one of the two bottom longitudinalsections can be disconnected from the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two bottom longitudinal sections, the firstlongitudinal side edge of one of the two top longitudinal sections canbe urged by the biasing means 8 to pivot relative to the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sectionsand the first longitudinal side edge of one of the two bottomlongitudinal sections can be urged by the biasing means 8 to pivotrelative to the second longitudinal side edge of the other of the twobottom longitudinal sections to open the elongated tube 1 to allow afishing line 2 to be reversibly disposed between the longitudinalsections 3, the first longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections can be pivoted relative to the second longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal section to reversiblyconnect the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge of the otherof the two longitudinal sections to close the elongated tube 1 with thefishing line 2 disposed in the passageway, the tube 1 can be extended sothat the distance from the top end to the bottom end 1 b is at least aslarge as a thickness of a sheet of ice 7 in which a hole 7 a is cut forice fishing, and the bottom end 1 b of the tube 1 with the fishing line2 disposed in the passageway can be inserted into the hole 7 a in thesheet of ice 7 that is filled with water from a body of water under theice, for ice fishing, with the top end 1 a of the tube 1 buoyantlymaintained at an elevation at least as high as the top surface of thesheet of ice 7 and the bottom end of the tube 1 buoyantly maintained atan elevation at or below the bottom surface of the sheet of ice toprotect the fishing line 2 from abrasion from the peripheral edge of thehole in the sheet of ice.

Preferably, the ice fishing line protection device further comprisingmeans for interlocking the top segment 18 and the bottom segment 20 sothat the relative positions of the top segment 18 and the bottom segment20 can be reversible fixed. Additionally, the bottom segment 20 may beat least partially nested in the top segment 18 and the buoyancy means 6are attached to an exterior surface of the top segment 18 of the tube 1.

Another preferred aspect of the ice fishing line protection device ofthis meanful invention allows the bottom segment 20 of the tube 1 to befree of buoyancy means 6 and slidably extends downwardly into the waterso that an extended length of the tube 1 is at least as large as athickness of a sheet of ice 7.

Furthermore, the ice fishing line protection device may comprise aweighted element 22 disposed proximate the bottom end of the tube 1 tofacilitate an upright disposition of the tube 1.

Another preferred aspect of the ice fishing line protection device ofthe current invention includes a top annular ring 24, a bottom annularring 26 and a pole connector 12. The pole connector has means forengaging a fishing pole 28 and is fixedly connected to the bottomannular ring 26 by at least one flexible cord 30 (preferably twoflexible cords). The at least one cord has the top annular ring 24slidably attached between the pole connector and the bottom annular ring26, and a first annular recess 32 is disposed on an interior surface ofthe top segment 18 of the tube 1 proximate the top end 1 a for receivingthe top annular ring 24, with a second annular recess 34 disposed on aninterior surface of the bottom segment 20 of the tube 1 proximate thebottom end 1 b for receiving the bottom annular ring 26, so that the topannular ring 24 can be disposed in the first annular recess 32 and thebottom annular ring 26 can be disposed in the second annular recess 34while the tube 1 is in the open position and secured therein by closingtube 1. The tube 1 can be extended to an appropriate length for thethickness of the ice and the length secured by the means forinterlocking, and the ice fishing line protection device can beextracted from the hole in the sheet of ice 7 by a fisherman raising afishing pole 28 engaged to the pole connector 12 or by actuating theopening of the tube 1 to release the fishing line 2. As shown in FIGS.1, 7, and 9 of the drawing, the pole connector 12 of the ice fishingline protection device comprises an element with one of a v-notch, ahook and a ring for engaging the fishing pole 28.

According to one embodiment of the ice fishing line protection device,the top end 1 a of the tube 1 is buoyantly maintained at an elevation atleast as high as the top surface of the sheet of ice 7 to protect thefishing line 2 from abrasion from the peripheral edge of the hole in thesheet of ice. Moreover, the bottom end of the tube 1 is preferablybuoyantly maintained at an elevation at or below the bottom surface ofthe sheet of ice to protect the fishing line 2 from abrasion from theperipheral edge of the hole in the sheet of ice. The buoyancy means 6for maintaining the top end 1 a of the tube 1 in an elevated positionrelative to the bottom end 1 b while the tube 1 is disposed in water maycomprise a floatation device attached to an exterior surface of theelongated tube 1. The floatation device may comprise an element made ofstyrofoam 36, a sealed air chamber 38, or the like.

To aid the ice fisherman in fishing below the ice, the ice fishing lineprotection device may further include a light source 40 attached to anexterior surface of the elongated tube 1 with illuminance directedtoward the bottom end 1 b of the tube 1.

The elongated tube 1 of the ice fishing line protection device may beextendable from a first position in which the tube 1 is condensed to asecond position in which the tube 1 is extended.

According to one embodiment, an ice fishing line protection devicecomprises an elongated tube 1 of variable length with a top end 1 a anda bottom end 1 b, biasing means 8, buoyancy means 6, means forreversibly connecting 5, means for interlocking, and a weighted element22. The tube 1 has an internal passageway 11 extending from the top end1 a to the bottom end 1 b through which a fishing line 2 may pass. Thetube 1 has a top segment 18 comprising two top longitudinal sectionsextending from the top end 1 a to a first medial end 14. Each of the twotop longitudinal sections has a first longitudinal side edge and asecond longitudinal side edge. The first longitudinal side edge of oneof the two top longitudinal sections is pivotally joined with the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two top longitudinalsections, and the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twotop longitudinal sections is reversibly connected to the firstlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections.

The tube 1 further has a bottom segment 20 comprising two bottomlongitudinal sections extending from a second medial end 16 to thebottom end 3 b. Each of the two bottom longitudinal sections has a firstlongitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge. The firstlongitudinal side edge of one of the two bottom longitudinal sections ispivotally joined with the second longitudinal side edge of the other ofthe two longitudinal sections and the second longitudinal side edge ofthe one of the two bottom longitudinal sections is reversibly connectedto the first longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections. One of the top segment 18 and bottom segment 20 is slidablynested at least partially in the other of the top segment 18 and bottomsegment 20. Preferably, the bottom segment 20 is at least partiallynested in the top segment 18. The bottom segment 20 of the tube 1slidably extends downwardly into the water so that an extended length ofthe tube 1 is at least as large as a thickness of a sheet of ice 7. Afirst annular recess 32 on an interior surface of the top segment 18 ofthe tube 1 proximate the top end 1 a and a second annular recess 34 onan interior surface of the bottom segment 20 of the tube 1 proximate thebottom end are further provided.

The biasing means 8 urges each of the second longitudinal side edges ofthe one of the two top longitudinal sections 3 a and the one of the twobottom longitudinal sections 3 b away from each of the firstlongitudinal side edges of the other of the two top longitudinalsections and the other of the two bottom longitudinal sections foropening the two top longitudinal sections and the two bottomlongitudinal sections to an open position are further provided. Thebuoyancy means 6 maintains the top end of the tube 1 in an elevatedposition relative to the bottom end while the tube 1 is disposed inwater and the buoyancy means 6 are attached to an exterior surface ofthe top segment 18 of the tube 1 are provided. The bottom segment 20 ofthe tube 1 is free of buoyancy means 6.

The means for reversibly connecting 5 the second longitudinal side edgeof the one of the two longitudinal sections to the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections are included.The means for reversibly connecting comprise an actuator 5 a that isaccessible to a fisherman on top of a sheet of ice 7 so that when theactuator 5 a is engaged by the fisherman the second longitudinal sideedge of the one of the two longitudinal sections is disconnected fromthe first longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections. Moreover, a top annular ring 24, a bottom annular ring 26 anda pole connector 12 are further provided. The pole connector has meansfor engaging a fishing pole 28 and is fixedly connected to the bottomannular ring 26 by at least one flexible cord 30. The at least one cordhas the top annular ring 24 slidably attached between the pole connectorand the bottom annular ring 26. The first annular recess 32 on theinterior surface of the top segment 18 of the tube 1 proximate the topend receives the top annular ring 24 and the second annular recess 34 onthe interior surface of the bottom segment 20 of the tube 1 proximatethe bottom end 1 b receives the bottom annular ring 26.

The weighted element 22 is disposed proximate the bottom end of the tube1 to facilitate an upright disposition of the tube 1, and the means forinterlocking interlocks the top segment 18 and the bottom segment 20 sothat the relative positions of the top segment 18 and the bottom segment20 can be reversible fixed.

Whereby, the top annular ring 24 can be disposed in the first annularrecess 32 and the bottom annular ring 26 can be disposed in the secondannular recess 34 while the tube 1 is in the open position and securedtherein by closing the tube 1, the tube 1 can be extended to anappropriate length for the thickness of the ice and the length securedby the means for interlocking, and the ice fishing line protectiondevice can be extracted from the hole in the sheet of ice 7 by afisherman raising a fishing pole 28 engaged to the pole connector 12,furthermore, the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the two toplongitudinal sections can be disconnected from the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sections and thesecond longitudinal side edge of the one of the two bottom longitudinalsections can be disconnected from the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two bottom longitudinal sections, the firstlongitudinal side edge of one of the two top longitudinal sections canbe urged by the biasing means 8 to pivot relative to the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two top longitudinal sectionsand the first longitudinal side edge of one of the two bottomlongitudinal sections can be urged by the biasing means 8 to pivotrelative to the second longitudinal side edge of the other of the twobottom longitudinal sections to open the elongated tube 1 to allow afishing line 2 to be reversibly disposed between the longitudinalsections 3, the first longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections can be pivoted about the hinge 4 relative to thesecond longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsection to reversibly connect the second longitudinal side edge of theone of the two longitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edgeof the other of the two longitudinal sections to close the elongatedtube 1 with the fishing line 2 disposed in the passageway, the tube 1can be extended so that the distance from the top end to the bottom endis at least as large as a thickness of a sheet of ice 7 in which a hole7 a is cut for ice fishing, and the bottom end of the tube 1 with thefishing line 2 disposed in the passageway 11 can be inserted into thehole in the sheet of ice 7 that is filled with water from a body ofwater under the ice, for ice fishing, with the top end of the tube 1buoyantly maintained at an elevation at least as high as the top surfaceof the sheet of ice and the bottom end 1 b of the tube 1 buoyantlymaintained at an elevation at or below the bottom surface of the sheetof ice to protect the fishing line 2 from abrasion from the peripheraledge of the hole in the sheet of ice 7.

While this invention has been described in connection with the best modepresently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention,the preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes ofillustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting anylimitations of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from thespirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope ofthe appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theconception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilizedas a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systemsfor carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It isimportant, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including suchequivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but ratherin the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosedand claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in theseparticular combinations of some or all of its structures for thefunctions specified.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention,including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function andmanner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationshipsto those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification,that would be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. An ice fishing line protection device comprising an elongated tubewith a top end and a bottom end, a. said tube having an internalpassageway extending from the top end to the bottom end through which afishing line may pass, b. said tube having two longitudinal sectionsextending from the top end to the bottom end, each of said twolongitudinal sections having a first longitudinal side edge and a secondlongitudinal side edge, i. the first longitudinal side edge of one ofthe two longitudinal sections is pivotally joined with the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal section, ii.the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinalsections is reversibly connected to the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two longitudinal sections, c. said tube having meansfor reversibly connecting the second longitudinal side edge of the oneof the two longitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge ofthe other of the two longitudinal sections, i. said means for reversiblyconnecting comprising an actuator that is accessible to a fisherman ontop of a sheet of ice so that when the actuator is engaged by thefisherman the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections is disconnected from the first longitudinal sideedge of the other of the two longitudinal sections, d. said tube havingbiasing means for urging the second longitudinal side edge of the one ofthe two longitudinal sections away from the first longitudinal side edgeof the other of the two longitudinal sections for opening said twolongitudinal sections, e. said tube having buoyancy means formaintaining the top end of the tube in an elevated position relative tothe bottom end while the tube is disposed in water, whereby, the secondlongitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections canbe disconnected from the first longitudinal side edge of the other ofthe two longitudinal sections, the first longitudinal side edge of oneof the two longitudinal sections can be urged by the biasing means topivot relative to the second longitudinal side edge of the other of thetwo longitudinal sections to open the elongated tube to allow a fishingline to be reversibly disposed between said the two longitudinalsections, the first longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections can be pivoted relative to the second longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal section to reversiblyconnect the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge of the otherof the two longitudinal sections to close the elongated tube with thefishing line disposed in the passageway, and the bottom end of the tubewith the fishing line disposed in the passageway can be inserted intothe hole in the sheet of ice that is filled with water from a body ofwater under the ice, for ice fishing, with the top end of the tubebuoyantly maintained in an elevated position relative to the bottom endand with the fishing line protected from abrasion from a peripheral edgeof the hole in the sheet of ice.
 2. The ice fishing line protectiondevice of claim 1, further comprising means for extracting the tube fromthe hole in the sheet of ice that is filled with water, said means forextracting including a linkage extending upwardly from the tube disposedin the hole, said linkage being accessible to the fisherman on top ofthe sheet of ice, whereby, the tube can be extracted from the hole inthe sheet of ice that is filled with water upon the linkage being pulledaway from the hole.
 3. An ice fishing line protection device comprising:a. an elongated tube with a top end and a bottom end, i. said tubehaving an internal passageway extending from the top end to the bottomend through which a fishing line may pass, ii. said tube having twolongitudinal sections extending from the top end to the bottom end, eachof said two longitudinal sections having a first longitudinal side edgeand a second longitudinal side edge, (1) the first longitudinal sideedge of one of the two longitudinal sections is pivotally joined withthe second longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsection, (2) the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections is reversibly connected to the first longitudinalside edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections; b. means forreversibly connecting the second longitudinal side edge of the one ofthe two longitudinal sections to the first longitudinal side edge of theother of the two longitudinal sections, i. said means for reversiblyconnecting comprising an actuator that is accessible to a fisherman ontop of a sheet of ice so that when the actuator is engaged by thefisherman the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections is disconnected from the first longitudinal sideedge of the other of the two longitudinal sections; c biasing means forurging the second longitudinal side edge of the one of the twolongitudinal sections away from the first longitudinal side edge of theother of the two longitudinal sections for opening said two longitudinalsections; and d. buoyancy means for maintaining the top end of the tubein an elevated position relative to the bottom end while the tube isdisposed in water, whereby, the second longitudinal side edge of the oneof the two longitudinal sections can be disconnected from the firstlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections,the first longitudinal side edge of one of the two longitudinal sectionscan be urged by the biasing means to pivot relative to the secondlongitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinal sections toopen the elongated tube to allow a fishing line to be reversiblydisposed between said the two longitudinal sections, the firstlongitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections canbe pivoted relative to the second longitudinal side edge of the other ofthe two longitudinal section to reversibly connect the secondlongitudinal side edge of the one of the two longitudinal sections tothe first longitudinal side edge of the other of the two longitudinalsections to close the elongated tube with the fishing line disposed inthe passageway, and the bottom end of the tube with the fishing linedisposed in the passageway can be inserted into the hole in the sheet ofice that is filled with water from a body of water under the ice, forice fishing, with the top end of the tube buoyantly maintained in anelevated position relative to the bottom end and with the fishing lineprotected from abrasion from a peripheral edge of the hole in the sheetof ice.